The NHL is on the hot seat while trying to find a solution to cut down on the number of concussions and bring more respect to the game.

The latest incident, involving Boston Bruins defenceman Zdeno Chara taking out Montreal Canadiens forward Max Pacioretty into a padded arena stanchion, has players, fans and sponsors up in arms over the NHL's decision not to level a suspension and/or fine for the dangerous play.

Pittsburgh Penguins superstar Sidney Crosby, the NHL's poster boy, hasn't played in more than two months after suffering a concussion in the Winter Classic on Jan. 1.

What can the NHL do about preventing concussions in hockey? Is it up to the players to show more respect in the game? Have your say in our forum.

The intent was clear, Chara knew what he was doing and to say anything else is just nonsense, Is Pacioretty culpable in this episode? Absolutely, every player knows or should know where he is on the ice, where you can get hurt and protect him/herself accordingly that still doesn't give the right to intentionally hurt someone. Where is the players association in all this? Nowhere to be found!
Jughead, 2011-03-10 17:24:25

Why is there an exposed rigid upright support in a rink that can inflict undue injury? This is ludicrous in a workplace safety-minded society!
Mal, 2011-03-10 17:22:33

GEORGE...

Air Canada sponsors ALL 6 canadian teams.

Did you ever hear of the AIR CANADA CENTRE ?....duh!!!

Mitch, 2011-03-10 17:19:05

The NHL will do nothing as they love this type of interest. However oppportunity is knocking here.The Quebec judicial system handing a 14 day jail term for aggrevated assault will certainly send the correct message throughout the league.
Jim, 2011-03-10 17:11:24

I wonder if Air Canada would have reacted the same way if this hit had been administered in another Canadian city. After all, the head office for Air Canada is in Montreal.
George, 2011-03-10 16:26:01

MONEY'S THICKER THEN BLOOD!

Main reason why the National Hypocrite League has become what it is.

Everyone praises international hockey competition at all level, with good reasons....simple folks...IHC is great because of one thing, & one thing only....TALENT!.No room nor need for goons there.

NHL has at least six teams too many, not enough talented players, result?..too many holes to be filled with GOONS, or like the hypocrits like to call 'em ,ENFORCERS or AGITATORS.

But....like most unions do..NHLPA has to "protect" all of its members' jobs...INCLUDING goons. Mario said it best,:" NHL is a travesty".

BTW....has anyone file a missing person's report on Mr. Fehr yet?

Mitch, 2011-03-10 16:23:28

Hockey is a rough sport and I hope Pacioretty is okay. But come on, let's get real here. The Canadian political parties are getting involved now, saying they will tell the NHL to straighten out the players all because of the Chara hit. Air Canada says they will not support hockey. To me it was a legal hit. Let's not be so selective when we want to cry foul guys. It just so happened to be a Montreal Canadien player (and a fine one at that), and that player was hurt, so now we have to stop hitting. Remove the Canadian type of hockey we all grew up with and replace it with a softer, kinder type of hockey. How many Politicians or Montreal fans mentioned to their politicians or newspapers or wrote in this blog that when Chara hit little Grabovski of the Toronto Maple Laffs twice on the same play a few weeks ago, one totally illegal, that Chara is too big or should not be allowed to play or the Death penalty should be used on him, or whatever then? That's right NONE. So you whining Canadian fans, suck it up, it is Hockey. Sometimes players get hurt and remember a hit that makes a noise is not always illegal. It just so happened it was your guy, suck it up and play the game.
Shake your Heads, 2011-03-10 15:57:56

Jim Balsille where are you...

Start a new league, and they will come!!

NHL can be brought down, the time is right.
beav, 2011-03-10 15:52:53

I'm liking R. Goddards comments.

This incident was an injury during a very hi risk vocation, playing in NHL.

Chara's not that kind of guy.

This is blatently a dangerous cond as result of building's rink design. Seriously, a vertical chunk of glass with some cotton batten on it!! If there are any prev documented cpmplaints specifically about this glass then Pacioretty could sue the hell out of Habs rink. Hey, lets try an experiment, walk slowly straight into the edge of a door, how do feel now? Now pretend your job is 100x faster, would you be ok with same door in your workplace. This is a nothing hit by Chara! The glass did Pacioretty in.
eddie b., 2011-03-10 15:45:52

Firstly, I do not agree that this was a headshot. Chara reached out to cut off Pach who's head hit the stanchion, then the ice.

Collision? Yes

Big player hitting smaller player? Yes

Accidental injury? Absolutely

Has this type of collision happened previously? Yes, too many times

Will it happen again? You bet, unless it is corrected.

So, if the NHL really cared to make the game safer they would:

a) Ensure a continuous glass around the ice with no such stanchions such as Pach hit (yes it would block the benches and that would not be good)

b) Go to Olympic size ice where the added space would make it a lot more difficult to corral a player (bigger players need bigger ice) But the owners would not go for that as it would require $$ to redesign arenas AND would cut into the $$ from those higher paying seats).

The safety concerns can be solved, but sacrifices will have to be made.
Henry, 2011-03-10 15:32:01